->''"My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message: Though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this: We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend - our ''home''."''

''Transformers Prime'' is a SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon in the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise. The series tells the story of a small crew of Autobots defending Earth against the Decepticons, after their home planet Cybertron was rendered uninhabitable from their civil war. The conflict is small, the once massive civilization is scattered around the universe and the factions on Earth are a fraction of that. Humanity does not have knowledge of this secret war. Accidentally caught up in the action are three humans: Jack, Rafael and Miko, who befriend the Autobots. They act mostly as {{Naive Newcomer}}s as they watch the robots battle it out, though they do prove useful in their own way due to the limited number of Autobots.

The series slowly built a MythArc where the conflict has greater significance than originally believed, as Earth and Cybertron have been connected in the past. The first season details the return of Decepticon activity after [[NoodleIncident an unspecified earlier conflict]], with the Autobots bonding with their new human friends. [[TheStarscream Starscream's]] position in the Decepticon hierarchy falls apart as he deals with the return of [[BigBad Megatron]]. Repercussions in the season finale force Optimus and Megatron together, and launch an arms race throughout the second season over ancient relics from Cybertron. The second season finale concerns [[WhamEpisode the future of the Autobot faction]], and the third season, subtitled ''Beast Hunters'', deals with Megatrons plan to clone a new army of [[EliteMooks Predacons]], and a FinalBattle dealing with who controls [[GrandFinale the fate of Cybertron itself]]. An epilogue movie called "Predacons Rising" resolves lingering elements of the MythArc and seeds of the future are planted.

The show is animated in CGI but carries a bit of a [[ForTheCelOfIt 2-D flair]]. Here is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVu67D2hXyA the opening sequence]] for the series. The overall look and tone of the show follows closely with the [[Film/{{Transformers}} live-action films]] (with Optimus, Bumblebee and Megatron having similar designs) while it continues to take inspiration from many other Transformers incarnations, and it has inspired a new MMO game, ''TransformersUniverse''. Overall the show was well received and accumulated not only good ratings, but has become one of the most highly-praised incarnations of the franchise for its high production standards in both writing and animation.

[[WordOfGod According to Hasbro]], ''Prime'' is a part of a greater continuity called the Franchise/TransformersAlignedUniverse and is intended to link up with other Transformers fiction such as ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron''. Because it is being worked on by different creative organizations, the individual works are not connected by a strict continuity but are considered part of a "continuity family" (much the same way as the G1 [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers cartoon]] and comics series are similar but separate entities).

''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise'' is a sequel series to ''Prime'', taking place years after the finale of ''Predacons Rising''.

[[index]]* TransformersPrime/TropesAToC* TransformersPrime/TropesDToF* TransformersPrime/TropesGToR* TransformersPrime/TropesSToZ----->''"Above all, do not lament my absence. For in my spark, I know that this is not the end, but merely a new beginning. Simply put, another transformation."''[[/index]]----